WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY PET?

Transcription

1 WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY PET? Navigating the marketing and mysteries of the pet food industry in the USA 2012

2 We know what to feed a dog or cat when they are sick, but what should we feed them when they are healthy in hopes that they don t get sick? There are so many choices when you go to the pet store...it s totally overwhelming. I don t really care what it costs, because if you re like me you love your pets and will spend extra if it will provide them benefits.

3 FACTORS TO CONSIDER Pricing Marketing Ingredients Calories Government Regulations Big C vs. Small Companies

4 PRICING The price of the food does NOT always equate with the quality especially as you go higher on the price point scale

5 MARKETING Misleading Misinformation Mysterious Money. Money. Money.

6 THEORY: DOGS AND WOLVES ARE 99% THE SAME AND SHOULD BE FED AN ANCESTRAL DIET The average life span of a wolf is 5 years. We are trying to triple that number.

7 TERMINOLOGY

8 HOLISTIC No meaning whatsoever in the pet world

9 NATURAL This means the PROCESSING was done naturally, not the ingredient. No chemicals, but can be heat processed, rendered, and fermented. This term is very vague and open to interpretation.

10 ORGANIC A feed or ingredient solely derived from plant, animal or mined sources Can be subjected to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extractions, hydrolysis, enzymolysis or fermentation Not subjected to a chemically synthetic process Not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts that might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices.

11 ORGANIC Organic does not mean safer Organic foods can be sprayed with organic pesticides, such as organophosphates. Organophosphates are deadly to animals in moderately high doses. Rabies and Anthrax are organic, but you wouldn t want them.

12 LEVELS OF ORGANIC %...may carry the USDA Organic Seal 70-95%...front panel may display Made with Organic followed by up to 3 specific ingredients Less than 70%...can use the word organic on the ingredient panel to describe that ingredient but not on the main panel It has to be this seal

13 HUMAN GRADE No legal definition Implies that the product is human edible False and misleading

14 MARKETING TRICKS Using the word Natural to describe an already natural product (ex: Natural Chicken) Using the word Holistic or Human Grade when the product has meal or other non-human edible ingredients Including the water weight in the protein source Spelling the word wrong (Organix) No ethoxyquin added when the ingredient arrived pre-treated with synthetic preservative (fishmeal)

15 GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

16 FDA CENTER OF VETERINARY MEDICINE WHAT THEY DO Requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled

17 FDA CENTER OF VETERINARY MEDICINE WHAT THEY DON T DO Do not have pre-market approval requirement Do not have power or ability to enforce a recall, can only suggest Do not inspect a diet unless a complaint is filed

18 The Food Safety Modernization Act passed by President Obama January 2011 provides more regulation and standardization of the food industry. Even though the act has passed, the guidelines are still being written

19 REALITY CHECK There is NO pre-market approval program.

20 AAFCO Association of American Feed Control Officials WHAT THEY DO Define feed analysis recommendations, i.e. the percentage of protein, fat and fiber Define ingredients acceptable for pet food Standardized Feeding Trials

21 AAFCO Association of American Feed Control Officials WHAT THEY DON T DO They do not authorize, certify, test or otherwise approve animal feed. They have no authority over websites or advertising, only the package.

22 AAFCO is using data from 1985 (over 25 years old) despite the fact that the Nutrition Research Council published more current updated nutrient information in 2006.

23 AAFCO METHODS OF EVALUATING FOOD

24 Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Interpretation: Never fed to an animal before hitting the market. Basically, it looks good on paper. Exception: Some companies do their own feeding trials way beyond AAFCO standards and choose not to become feeding trial labeled. (Iams and Royal Canin)

25 AAFCO Feeding Trials 8 dogs, 6 months --Only 6 have to live --Cannot lose more than 15% of their weight --Minimal bloodwork to monitor *Seriously??

26 It is important to choose a food that has been tested beyond AAFCO standards.

27 INGREDIENTS

28

29 PROTEIN

30 PROTEIN Protein provides essential amino acids that animals cannot make on their own. Protein provides energy and is a critical building block for hair, skin, muscles, tendons and cartilage. Combinations of proteins usually have higher levels of amino acids than single protein diets.

31 CHICKEN The clean combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken or a combination thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and entrails. Chicken for human consumption Chicken as defined for pet food

32 CHICKEN MEAL Chicken, without water, which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size

33 CHICKEN BY-PRODUCTS Consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice

34 All by-products are not created equal The by-product on the left is nutrient rich organs and very nutritious to pets. The carcass on the right is primarily bone and not very digestible. By-products are a traded commodity. Those with less bone and more organs are more expensive to buy.

35 CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL Chicken by-products, without water, which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size

36 REALITY CHECK How do you know you re not getting the low grade protein in your pet food? A food with higher levels of calcium and phosphorus usually contain more bone.

37 MEAT AND BONE MEAL A rendered product from combined animals that include cows, pigs, sheep and goats

38 4D (dead, diseased, dying or disabled) Uncommon practice to include in pet food and prohibited in ruminant (cattle, goats, sheep, elk, etc) feed due to mad cow disease Traces of pentobarbital have been found If rendered in high quality, can be excellent source of nutrients If rendered in poor quality, should be avoided

39 PHOSPHORUS FACT: Feeding excessive phosphorus to a pet with kidney disease makes the disease progress faster FACT: Phosphorus is found in protein. FACT: We can t detect kidney disease until 66 to 75% of the total kidney function is lost FACT: There is no benefit to feeding high levels of phosphorus after the growth phase

40 PHOSPHORUS Feeding an OPTIMAL level of phosphorus is ideal for protecting kidney function

41 OPTIMAL PHOSPHORUS 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Growth and Pregnancy 2.3 Maintenance 1.4 Maximum 4.6 To calculate the phosphorus level in gm/1000 kcal: Phosphorus in %dmb x 10,000 / ME (kg/kcal)

42 OPTIMAL PHOSPHORUS 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Growth and Pregnancy 2.3 Maintenance 1.4 Maximum 4.6 To calculate the phosphorus level in gm/1000 kcal: Phosphorus in %dmb x 10,000 / ME (kg/kcal)

43 OPTIMAL PHOSPHORUS 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Growth and Pregnancy 2.3 Maintenance 1.4 Maximum 4.6 To calculate the phosphorus level in gm/1000 kcal: Phosphorus in %dmb x 10,000 / ME (kg/kcal)

44 OPTIMAL PHOSPHORUS 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Growth and Pregnancy 2.3 Maintenance 1.4 Maximum 4.6 To calculate the phosphorus level in gm/1000 kcal: Phosphorus in %dmb x 10,000 / ME (kg/kcal)

45 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS DOG FOOD 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Optimal 0.4 SD k/d SD k/d is a kidney diet and shows how low phosphorus has to be to manage kidney disease SD j/d SD b/d RC Osteo/Digest SD Healthy Adv Taste of the Wild Orijen Blue Buffalo Wellness Super 5 Natural Balance

46 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS DOG FOOD 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Optimal 0.4 SD k/d SD k/d is a kidney diet and shows how low phosphorus has to be to manage kidney disease SD j/d SD b/d RC Osteo/Digest SD Healthy Adv Taste of the Wild Orijen Blue Buffalo Wellness Super 5 Natural Balance

47 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS DOG FOOD 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Optimal 0.4 SD k/d SD k/d is a kidney diet and shows how low phosphorus has to be to manage kidney disease SD j/d SD b/d RC Osteo/Digest SD Healthy Adv Taste of the Wild Orijen Blue Buffalo Wellness Super 5 Natural Balance

48 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS CAT FOOD 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Optimal 0.4 SD k/d SD k/d is a kidney diet and shows how low phosphorus has to be to manage kidney disease SD g/d SD Age Defying SD Healthy Adv RC Mature Wellness CORE Friskies CA Naturals Orijen Purina One

49 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS CAT FOOD 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Optimal 0.4 SD k/d SD k/d is a kidney diet and shows how low phosphorus has to be to manage kidney disease SD g/d SD Age Defying SD Healthy Adv RC Mature Wellness CORE Friskies CA Naturals Orijen Purina One

50 PHOSPHORUS LEVELS CAT FOOD 4.6 Gm/ 1000 Kcal Optimal 0.4 SD k/d SD k/d is a kidney diet and shows how low phosphorus has to be to manage kidney disease SD g/d SD Age Defying SD Healthy Adv RC Mature Wellness CORE Friskies CA Naturals Orijen Purina One

51 CARBOHYDRATES

52 CARBOHYDRATES Provide energy Digested and converted to glucose. Different carbohydrates convert at different rates resulting in varying blood sugar levels. It is helpful to maintain an even level when trying to lose weight. Carbs are grains, vegetables, fruit

53 GRAINS PROMOTE INTESTINAL HEALTH Encourage good bacteria growth (Acidophilus and Lactobacillus) Acidify the intestinal lumen which decreases E. Coli, Salmonella and Clostridial replication Grains have soluble and insoluble fiber that helps prevent diarrhea (FOS and MOS)

54 CORN AS A GRAIN

55 Corn, when processed properly (cooked and ground) has a very digestible profile with about 98% of its nutrients utilized by animals.

56 GRAIN-FREE DIETS

57 Marketing to people instead of animals is more profitable. Many companies want you to think pets have a high incident of grain allergies.

58 REALITY CHECK The incidence of food allergy in all animals? Less than 15% The incidence of grain allergies in all animals? Less than 2%

59 Pets are Not People with Fur Percentages of allergen triggers in dogs and cats with food allergies Beef & Dairy Chicken, Lamb, Pork, Fish Egg and Soy Grains (Wheat and Rice) Corn Gluten Dog and Cat Food Allergens

60 GLUTEN-FREE DIETS Gluten allergies have been found in 0.05% of animals. That is... 5 in 10,000 It is a marketing campaign and should not be taken seriously! Most of these are Irish Setters. They have a genetic familial defect in processing gliaden.

61 VEGETABLES AND FRUITS AS CARBS It s not the pretty fresh fruit you re thinking of...it s the dried fruit which is mostly sugar.

62 SUGAR LEVEL RISE AFTER MEAL ?? Sorghum Corn Barley Wheat Rice Fruits Vegetables

63 GRAIN-FREE DIETS Use potatoes and tapioca commonly as the source of fiber. This is similar to a slice of bread. Not really enough to promote good GI health, just enough to prevent diarrhea.

64 Animals fed a grain-free diet often have more bouts of loose stool and diarrhea.

65 SHOULD YOUR PET AVOID GRAINS? Only if they have been diagnosed with a rare food allergy. If you are concerned about allergies, you would be much more likely to see a response by avoiding beef and dairy.

66 FAT

67 FAT Helps with endurance activities Improve sense of smell and joint function, reducing inflammation and increasing brain function

68 FAT FACTS Pet obesity is the biggest problem animals face. Grain-free diets often have very high calorie counts due to the high fat content.

69 CALORIC CONTENT Often not listed on the pet food bag Obesity has been linked to arthritis, pain, heart disease, diabetes and a shorter life span Animals have caloric needs based on their weight

70 Dog and cat foods can vary from 230 calories per cup to 600 calories per cup 80 lb Lab = 1100 calories per day Cat = 230 calories per day

71 This comprehensive website lists the calorie counts for all the major pet foods

72 FISH OIL The beneficial part is EPA and DHA from Omega 3 s Vegetable and oilseed (such as flax seed, vegetable, and olive) are not as easily converted to EPA and DHA Marine sources, cold water oily fish, are the best (mehaden, mackerel, tuna, Atlantic salmon, herring and sardines) Lean fish, such as cod, have much lower amounts

73 PRESERVATIVES

74 PRESERVATIVES Vitamin E (Tocopherol) Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) Rosemary Extract BHT...linked to cancer at very high doses BHA...linked to cancer at very high doses Ethoxyquin...linked to cancer at very high doses

75 PRESERVATIVES The studies that have shown BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin linked to cancer in rats and fish were at extremely high doses. It would be similar to studying the effects of taking 400 to 1000 aspirins per day.

76 Canned foods need very little preservatives as canning itself is a form of preserving.

77 THE PET FOOD LABEL

78 GUARANTEED ANALYSIS Not very helpful Guaranteeing a MINIMAL level of nutrition We are trying to get OPTIMAL levels and avoid certain maximums.

79 GUARANTEED ANALYSIS The ingredients listed by raw weight Water weight counts. After the first 4, the amount drops off considerably. The percentages are based on as-fed basis Water has to be subtracted to compare diets. Can be very misleading especially if you don t have a calculator. Very few maximum regulations

80 Example: Dog Food A (dry) 38% protein Moisture is 10% To figure this, subtract the moisture =90 38% / 90 (dry matter)= 42% protein

81 Example: Dog Food B (canned) 7% protein Moisture is 78% To figure this, subtract the moisture =22 7% / 22 (dry matter)= 31% protein

82 NUTRITIONAL ADEQUACY STATEMENT Formulated vs. Feeding Trial Life Stage vs. All Life Stages Puppy/Kitten Adult/Maintenance All Life Stage (avoid this)

83 ALL-LIFE STAGE DIETS This means the diet has to pass the requirements for ALL the life stages. It is basically puppy or kitten food. It is not ideal to feed this to a pet after the growth phase is completed.

84

85

86 RAW DIETS

87 RAW DIETS Difficult to balance so health risks increase, especially in growing animals Increased risk for diarrhea and GI infection Exposes the humans to Salmonella, E. Coli, Cryptosporidium Active Salmonella is excreted in stool and remains active posing a health risk for adults and children Unproven and considered a fad by most veterinarians

88 HOME-COOKED DIETS

89 HOME-COOKED DIETS Most home diets are not balanced and this is a great health risk to animals The KEY POINT is to have a balanced additive for minerals and vitamins.

90 BIG CORPORATIONS VS. SMALL COMPANIES

91 THE BIG FOUR Royal Canin Hill s Science Diet Iams/Eukanuba Purina

92 EXAMPLES OF SCIENCE THAT HAS CHANGED LIVES THROUGH FOOD Royal Canin urinary disease Hill s k/d kidney failure Iams gastrointestinal Hill s food allergies Royal Canin large breed development Purina diabetes arthritis Hill s y/d hyperthyroidism

93 BIG CORPS Science Diet Purina Iams Royal Canin Science Based Diets x x x x Veterinarian or Nutritionist on Staff x x x x Manufacture Their Own Product x x x x Extensive Quality Control Programs x x x x Research to Find Cures for Disease x x x x Work Closely with Veterinarians x x x x Can Visit Facility x x x x

94 CRITICAL QUESTIONS

95 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet?

96 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet? Have you ever done a feeding trial for your product?

97 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet? Have you ever done a feeding trial for your product? Do you monitor the levels of minerals and protein in each production cycle?

98 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet? Have you ever done a feeding trial for your product? Do you monitor the levels of minerals and protein in each production cycle? Do you manufacture your own product?

99 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet? Have you ever done a feeding trial for your product? Do you monitor the levels of minerals and protein in each production cycle? Do you manufacture your own product? Do you have a nutritionist on staff?

100 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet? Have you ever done a feeding trial for your product? Do you monitor the levels of minerals and protein in each production cycle? Do you manufacture your own product? Do you have a nutritionist on staff? What is your QC program?

101 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet? Have you ever done a feeding trial for your product? Do you monitor the levels of minerals and protein in each production cycle? Do you manufacture your own product? Do you have a nutritionist on staff? What is your QC program? Do you import any of your ingredients?

102 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet? Have you ever done a feeding trial for your product? Do you monitor the levels of minerals and protein in each production cycle? Do you manufacture your own product? Do you have a nutritionist on staff? What is your QC program? Do you import any of your ingredients? How many recalls have you had?

103 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet? Have you ever done a feeding trial for your product? Do you monitor the levels of minerals and protein in each production cycle? Do you manufacture your own product? Do you have a nutritionist on staff? What is your QC program? Do you import any of your ingredients? How many recalls have you had? Do you do research or help try to find cures for disease?

104 CRITICAL QUESTIONS Who designed your diet? Have you ever done a feeding trial for your product? Do you monitor the levels of minerals and protein in each production cycle? Do you manufacture your own product? Do you have a nutritionist on staff? What is your QC program? Do you import any of your ingredients? How many recalls have you had? Do you do research or help try to find cures for disease? Can I visit your facility?

105 REALITY CHECK Marketing is pervasive in the pet food industry, research is not... Choose a diet based on science and facts, not marketing and fads.

106 HOW TO CHOOSE A PET FOOD? High quality by-products or meat Grains as carbohydrate source (if no allergies) Optimal phosphorus, sodium and calcium EPA/DHA fish oil Moderate calorie content Fiber benefits Anti-oxidants Natural preservatives **breed specific benefits when applicable

107 WHAT TO AVOID... High protein levels High phosphorus levels All-life stage diets Non-marine source fish oils Meat and bone meal Grain-free diets High calorie diets Unbalanced diets

108 RECOMMENDED DIETS Veterinary wellness diets are a higher quality and provide more benefits than over the counter diets.

109 RECOMMENDED DIETS SMALL DOGS Royal Canin Skin & Stone Royal Canin Weight & Stone Science Diet Healthy Advantage Vet Royal Canin Toy or Mini Royal Canin (breed specific) Science Diet Pet Store

110 RECOMMENDED DIETS LARGE DOGS **** Royal Canin Osteo and Digest **** Royal Canin Mature **** Science Diet Healthy Advantage **** Science Diet j/d Vet *** Royal Canin Medium, Maxi or Giant *** Royal Canin (breed specific) *** Science Diet Mobility Support ** Science Diet ** Eukanuba * Iams * Purina Pet Store

111 RECOMMENDED DIETS SENIOR DOGS Science Diet b/d or j/d Royal Canin Mature Vet Royal Canin Aging Care Science Diet Mobility Science Diet Mature Pet Store

112 RECOMMENDED DIETS YOUNG ADULT CATS Royal Canin Young Adult Science Diet Healthy Advantage Science Diet w/d or t/d Vet Royal Canin Science Diet Pet Store

113 RECOMMENDED DIETS SENIOR CATS Royal Canin Mature Science Diet g/d or j/d Vet Science Diet Age-Defying Royal Canin Active Mature Science Diet Pet Store

114 WEST LAWN, PA*